Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate franchise it belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Different Fates

Chapter 36

"Archer I have a job for you."

Archer paused lifting his teacup and set it down. "It's nothing too complicated." Sakura said. "You can do it after breakfast, though I must apologize. I'll be using you as a messenger boy."

Archer raised an eyebrow. "To whom?" he asked. "And what's the message?"

Sakura beamed across the breakfast table. "One's an express letter to Her Highness Princess Louise Francoise at London." She answered. "You'll have to bring that to the post office, and don't worry I'll give you the money for it. The second letter – actually one of three copies I made – I'll have you bring to Kotomine Church and the resident priest."

"What happened to the third copy?" Anika asked, filled with foreboding. From the sound of things Sakura might have filled out official documentation in triplicate, and while plenty of official Association documentation needed to be made out in triplicate, only a few of them made sense in the current context.

No…only one of them would make complete sense in context. But…it would be rather…extreme…

Sakura's satisfied smile didn't falter in the least. "It's my copy." She answered. "For future reference you see."

"Sakura…you can't be…hey Sakura!"

Sakura laughed happily while taking a drink of Ceylon tea. "Now, now…" she said. "…I suspected you'd react like that. But it's alright. I've thought this through. I'm well within my rights to commit to this, and based on the information I received from that…Matou boy whatever his name was, together with my sister's accusations…"

Sakura trailed off, and she took another drink of her tea before setting her teacup down. "Things being what they are…" she said. "…I still have to pull a few strings to get this to work without it blowing up in the end. However I trust Her Highness, even if it means I'll be obliged to her in the future, more than I already am. And while I have…doubts about Kirei's reliability, I believe I can count on his cooperation in this matter."

"Is that all?"

"No…" Sakura said while sitting back. "…I'm certain that on one hand this plan will certainly alienate Saber and most likely Rider. But you already knew that since last night. However, this plan just might open up the possibility for an alliance with Berserker and Einzbern. We might oppose the former's claim to Britain's throne…but if we can then we should use her power for the sake of our objective."

Anika was silent, and Sakura smiled at her. "And if I can get rid of that filth…" she said. "…then maybe I can get my sister and Caster's cooperation. But the Holy Grail can only be claimed by one. I'd rather not betray my sister for the sake of victory. I…I am not my father. Family is and should be more important than how he saw it."

"So you would rather betray Einzbern instead?"

Sakura briefly closed her eyes. "Einzbern, Matou, Tohsaka…" she said. "…our families are allies of convenience. Each of us has knives at each other's backs. Betrayal is normal…expected even…furthermore they're not Prussian so I've no real obligations to them."

Anika sighed and shook her head. "I hope it all goes as you plan Sakura." She said. "But…"

"I know." She said. "No plan survives contact with the enemy. Even so…the alternative is attacking that filth's fortifications head on. I'd rather not follow the British example in 1916 at the Somme."

Anika didn't reply, and Sakura turned back to Archer. "Once you deliver the letters to Kotomine Church and the post office…" she said. "…I want you to deliver a letter to the Matou property."

Anika choked on her tea. "What?" she exclaimed.

Sakura grinned, pulling out a sheet of paper and handing it to Anika. "Here's the draft." She said, and with a sigh Anika took it and began to read.

"Maggot…" the baroness began. "…I am un-amused by the dishonour you have inflicted on my family. If I were of a lesser sort, I would already have you pay for your treachery with your life and the destruction of everything you possess and hold dear. That assumes of course that the latter even applies to the like of you, you pestilent dog."

Anika paused and glanced at Sakura, who serenely enjoyed her tea. "As it stands however…" she continued to read aloud. "…I am not of lesser sort, though even they would be superior to you. I am willing to offer you a last chance, which if you possess even the smallest shred of honour – which I doubt – you would accept. I want my sister back. I want her back without any of those foul things you placed in her. I want you to shut down all of your defences, and for you to recluse yourself under the protection of the Holy Church until the end of this war. I want you to offer all of your family's knowledge and materials to the Association after this war under my mediation. Do this and I give my word that I will forget that you have ever existed. I will forget the tortures and indignities you heaped on my sister, though I acknowledge that part of the blame lies with my father's faults. I will allow you to live, and even to depart to whichever dank pit you would retreat to and spend the rest of your pathetic life in. You have until this evening to accept. Refuse my offer, and you shall know my wrath. Superior to you in every way Sakura Tohsaka, Sixth Head of the Tohsaka Family, Knight of the Red Eagle Third Class."

Anika folded the draft and gave it back to Sakura. "Throwing down the gauntlet…?" she asked, and Sakura smiled.

"That filth…" she said. "…he'll probably think I'll commit everything I have to kill him myself. And he's right. Except I've no intention of staining my beautiful Starlight with his filthy blood. No, something as filthy as him and his brood can only be answered with purification by fire."

Sakura paused, and then she glanced at Anika. "I…thank you…" she said with a small blush.

"W-whatever for…?"

"You stopped me from killing Shinji Matou." Sakura said. "You're right, after…after I went mad and tried to enslave him, I didn't have the right to kill him. My Starlight would have been dimmed, so thank you for bringing me back, and for keeping my Starlight pure and bright."

Anika's eyes widened and she quickly looked down, her cheeks red and rosy. "I…I was just…" she fumbled. "…I was just looking out for you."

Sakura's smile grew wider and she nodded before reaching into a pocket. Three sealed envelopes were produced, and she handed them to Archer. "Can you do it?" she asked.

"Easily…" he replied, inwardly-impressed by Sakura's ruthlessness. And he already had a good idea as to what she planned to do tonight. And after her, after Sakura Matou's ultimate fate in that other world, he had absolutely no problems whatsoever with firebombing Zouken to extinction.

Of course, there would be collateral. But he could live with that. But could Sakura…?

"And what will you do between now and this evening?" he asked instead.

"To be honest I wanted to take Anika out for the day…" Sakura replied, a note of irritation entering her voice. "…but I don't want to give Zouken an opportunity for a pre-emptive attack. So unfortunately we'll have to stay here."

"Prudent…" Archer agreed. "…even if he attacks pre-emptively, the defences will hold long enough for me to get here."

"And if he does I'll have it easier to burn his ass for using magic in the daytime. Such a risk…but it will mean I won't have to pull as many strings. Not that he would be that desperate by this point."

"I see."

"You've been away for some time." Caster greeted his Master as she finally returned to their shared hideout. Behind his golden mask Caster raised his eyebrows at his Master's state. There were dark circles around her eyes, while blood and dirt stained her face and patches of exposed skin. Her clothes were just as filthy, with blood and other, more questionable substances. "Do you require assistance?"

"I'm fine." Rin replied. "My dolls can take care of me. I…I just want a bath…something light to eat…and then…"

"And then…?"

"I'm going to sleep. Don't disturb me unless something important comes up."

"I am your servant." Caster replied with a hint of mockery. "However 'important' is such a vague qualification. Would you care to be more specific?"

"Anything short of an enemy attack…" Rin replied. "...do as you see fit."

"Very well then…" Caster said with a bow, and Rin staggered away. Caster followed her with his eyes until she was out of sight. He glided away then, making for Golem Keter Malkuth's 'cradle' but then changed direction for his alchemy labs.

His masterpiece still needed some work, but after months of work and a great deal of expended resources it was almost complete…in form at least. In essence it was years away from completion. The core of the golem, its power source…then as now it remained a problem.

His Master was a possible solution, or rather the Einzbern component of her brutalized soul. If he could replicate their mysteries, then perhaps he could shave away a decade at least from the research needed to perfect a magic core suitable for Golem Keter Malkuth. He might even be able to make a prototype magic core.

Of course magi being magi…the girl's 'grandfather' probably wouldn't share his secrets with him. And Caster surprisingly found it too risky for the girl's life by recklessly poking around with the mysteries she embodied.

Apart from the fact that souls were…tricky things to say the least, the corpse might deny him his goal by killing the child, or worse – it was child's play to determine the nature of the crude constructs the corpse used as familiars – consume her. As a Master, Rin Matou was preferable to that corpse she called grandfather.

If he consumed her, then he might get her command spells in the process. And that was something he would not be happy about.

He'd made preparations of course. The girl was useful to him, and it wasn't…questionable that he be of some use to her in return. He just needed to wait for the right time. Slipping two glass cartridges filled with fluid into his gauntlet's interior mechanisms, he went off to another part of his workshop, this section dominated by a large pipe organ, or something that looked like one.

Caster glided to a halt in front of it, and after a moment's thought pressed a series of black and white keys to a soft musical accompaniment. Screens of light flickered to life around him, replaying images of the very first battle of the Fifth Holy Grail War. The Servant of the Spell knew that Tohsaka had as much potential as her estranged sister, and as a magus he naturally found himself curious about how far she had gone.

"Curious…" he thought, though not for the first time. "…very curious indeed…spatial manipulation is a derivative of True Magic, and would normally require High Thaumaturgy to actualize. And yet…Rin says that her sister possesses Imaginary Numbers…useful for solving many conceptual hurdles with the concept of 'possible on the non-physical plane' but still…a single-count aria?"

Caster continued to watch, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully behind his mask. "What is your secret…" he thought, again not for the first time. "…magus Tohsaka?"

"Audacious…" Kirei Kotomine remarked as he finished reading Sakura's document another time. "…one might even say outrageously so."

"How do you intend to deal with this matter priest?" Gilgamesh asked.

"The evidence she possesses is rather circumstantial, perhaps even flimsy with regards to the second charge." Kirei replied. "The first, while certainly indiscreet, would not warrant such an extreme response."

"So you would not accommodate her?"

The tone of voice was mildly curious as always, but Kirei's instincts warned him that the King of Heroes was testing him. And so he responded safely, unwilling to court Gilgamesh's displeasure. Depending on the situation, the response of the blonde would range from a scathing remark (which he could live with) or a hail of Noble Phantasms from the Gate of Babylon (which he would obviously not live through).

"May I ask your opinion, King of Heroes?"

Gilgamesh's face twisted into a sneer. "You have asked." He said. "And you will receive an answer. That…thing, it disgusts me Kirei. Its very existence offends me. This land is a backwater, nothing like my homeland beside great Tigris and Euphrates, but it is still part of my garden. Its presence is an ugly stain. Were it not so utterly below me I would have dealt with this long since. And I have tolerated your tolerating its continued existence only for the sake of this little play you conduct at present."

Kirei was silent, and Gilgamesh's sneer faded. "Very well…" he said. "…so the King commands. The rebel wishes to redeem her family's honour with purifying fire. I will be generous, and grant her the honour of delivering justice by wiping that foul stain from the face of my garden."

"In that case…" Kirei said with a bow. "…I shall accommodate Sakura Tohsaka's design."

Gilgamesh scoffed but said nothing more. Kirei bowed again, and left the King of Heroes to his solitude.

"Tohsaka's made her move…" Illya said to Berserker over lunch. "…or at least she's about to. I don't know why, but Archer's visited the post office, Kotomine Church, and even the Makiri hovel in that order."

"If she's planning to attack the Makiri…" Berserker replied. "…maybe she delivered a formal letter of challenge?"

"Humph…" Illya scoffed. "…such a gentlemanly way of trying to fight a war. Then again Makiri's been expecting an attack for a while now, considering all the magic he's piled up around his house. There's no surprising him no matter how one tries it."

"Do you think she'll succeed?" Berserker asked.

Illya snorted. "Makiri is old…" she said. "…older than my grandfather in fact…I'd say he's as slimy as a snake, except that would be an insult to snakes. He's a worm. A bad weed that needs to be ripped out and burned. But as I said he's old. He's not really that powerful, but he knows a lot, especially when it comes to avoiding or escaping powerful enemies, or failing that surviving and coming back once the enemy is gone."

Berserker nodded, focusing on her steak and mixed vegetables for the next several moments, Illya doing likewise for her schnitzel and potato salad. And then Berserker sat back, swirling the red wine in her glass and enjoying the blood-coloured fluid playing with the frosted patterns on the glass.

"What do you plan to do then?" she asked.

Illya finished chewing before answering. "I don't like her…" she said bluntly. "…but she's no fool. The Hohenzollerns don't suffer fools lightly. She'll fight smart, and her Archer's got a lot of power behind him, remember?"

Berserker snorted, and then she smirked. "Is that so?" she said. "I remember the attempted assassination. I doubt if that was all Archer was capable of too."

"Isn't it?" Illya said with a matching smirk. "This Archer has the ability to pound fortresses to dust. It will take time and lots of prana, but Tohsaka's got a lot of prana. Not as much as I have certainly, but still a lot. I doubt she can kill Zouken – he's much too slippery – but she can definitely turn that fortress of his into dust."

"And then…?"

"Once the pest's been smoked out…" Illya said with her eyes flashing. "…we'll swoop in and crush him like the worm that he is."

"You know I could do both smoking and crushing myself."

"Oh I know that." Illya said. "But I'd like to keep your full power a secret a little longer. So we'll let Tohsaka do the smoking. We'll watch, and keep her back clear in case Caster and the younger worm decide to make a surprise attack."

"Well if that's what my Master says…" Berserker said, stabbing her knife down and causing blood to ooze from her steak. "…then so be it. And it's still early too. I don't want to show everything I have just yet."

Illya smiled, raising her glass of orange juice in a toast. Berserker toasted her back.

A bell rang as the door opened, Shirou walking into the antique store to the mumbled greetings of the old man at the counter. The young man took a deep breath, the musty air of the store surprisingly relaxing. Moving carefully so as to not disturb anything – or worse break anything – he wandered past the shelves, keeping an eye out for anything useful as a gift.

With school still out, he'd taken Ayako out on a date. Saber had been unhappy at being unable to tag along and protect him, but he'd promised her that if he needed to, he'd call her with a command spell. And in any case, it was daytime. No Master or Servant would dare take open action and court reprisal from the Overseer.

Still, he'd have to get back home before it got too dark. Thankfully with Ayako finding out about the secret world, she understood why that had to be the case, so it wasn't as troublesome as it might otherwise be.

He'd taken her out for lunch, and then they'd gone for a walk in the mall. Ayako not being the type to fancy expensive clothes, they'd instead gone looking at sports supplies, and even found a few worth buying. Naturally, Shirou ended up carrying their purchases, not that he really minded.

It's good exercise at any rate.

Ayako had gone to the toilet though, and Shirou had spotted the hidden antique store while waiting for her. Leaving their purchases near the counter, Shirou went looking for a gift for Ayako.

China, silverware, pots and vases, furniture, bric-a-brac…most of the things were either too expensive or something Ayako wouldn't find useful. She probably wouldn't refuse a gift, but she was a practical type of woman.

"That means the dolls are a no go…" Shirou thought as he briefly examined a cabinet full of finely-crafted porcelain dolls in Victorian wear. Sighing, he went for another round…and just as he was about to give up, something caught his eye.

It was a simple thing really, just a small, plain box that could be opened. A tinny melody played while it was open, soft and soothing. It wasn't really practical, but Shirou thought Ayako might appreciate it. Taking it back to the counter, Shirou paid for it and extra for the packaging.

Leaving the store, he saw Ayako waiting for him in the distance. Spotting him walking over, she waved at him. "Hey…" she said as he arrived. "…where'd you go?"

"I bought you a gift." He said. "Here you go. Open it when you get home, alright?"

Ayako took the wrapped box with some surprise, and then with a playful smile glanced at him. "Thanks Shirou…" she said. "…though this isn't one of those pop-up things meant to surprise people, is it?"

"Ha, ha, as if I'd buy something like that." Shirou said with a roll of his eyes, smiling as Ayako laughed at the uncharacteristic action. "And they don't sell any of those in antique stores…I think."

Ayako laughed and then placed the gift in her bag. "Thanks again." She said, and Shirou nodded.

"No problem."

"So what now…?"

Shirou took a look at his wristwatch. "We've still got a couple of hours until sunset…" he said. "…so I suppose we can have a look at a couple of more stores before we have to go back."

"Alright then…! Let's get a move on!"

"Yes, yes…"

The setting Sun burned like gold in a sky the color of fire, and Anika Freiin von Derfflinger couldn't help but wonder if it was an omen or not. And if it was, did it bode well or ill?

She stopped her musing as the flower shop's door opened beside her, Sakura carrying a bouquet of chrysanthemums in her arms. And considering what occasion chrysanthemums were appropriate for, the baroness began thinking about omens once more. "A tribute for the dead?" she asked.

Sakura nodded, and stepping closer to the baroness gently took her by the chin before just as gently pressing her lips against Anika's. Anika leaned forward, holding Sakura gently by the shoulders and savouring the moment. The moment stretched and passed, and then the two separated. "You'll stay with me…?" Sakura asked.

"Don't ask stupid questions." Anika responded, and with a nod Sakura began walking down the street, Anika right beside. As the Sun finally set, the sky turning from red to darkening shades of violet and blue before turning into the star-speckled dark of night, they continued on their way, ignoring the heightened danger of attack.

"The enemy has committed to the strategic defensive." Anika reassured Sakura through mental telepathy. "That we haven't been attacked despite the relative lack of people in our surroundings and the falling darkness is proof of this."

"I know." Sakura replied. "Thanks for the reassurance, really."

Anika smiled and took Sakura's hand. Sakura briefly looked surprised before smiling too. They continued on their way, arriving at an apartment complex half-an-hour later. Casually walking past the guard at the entrance, they discreetly made their way to the elevator and thence to the rooftop.

"Twenty minutes…" Sakura muttered while glancing at a pocket watch and as Anika placed a couple of bounded fields over the roof. Nodding her thanks, Sakura walked over to and leaned against the railings, still carrying her chrysanthemums against her chest. The night breeze blew fitfully, fluttering their yellow petals and blowing through Sakura's dark hair. "…aren't you going to say anything?"

"Even if I do say something…" Anika said while leaning against the railings next to Sakura. "…it won't change anything will it? And besides…this is war. And we are magi. We walk with death. People die in war, just as sacrifice is inevitable."

"You've seen it too, haven't you?"

"You plan to use Archer as artillery to smash Matou into oblivion from a distance."

"And…?"

Anika shrugged. "To be honest is there any other viable strategy?" she asked. "If I were in your place, I'd have chosen the same thing."

"The only other alternative would be a ground assault, for which we have not the numbers." Sakura said sadly. She sighed. "And even if we could call on our fellow magi for this…this is the Holy Grail War. There is…I have too much at stake to call on others in person. Even contacting Her Highness is pushing things."

Sakura paused, and then smiled wistfully. "Matou's rot is deep…" she said, staring out over the expanse of the city outskirts and suburbs. "…this matter should have been dealt with long ago. And because it was not, so many people are about to die."

Anika glanced at Sakura, and with a small smile moved closer. Sakura glanced at her, and was caught by surprise as Anika gently took hold of her head and kissed her on the forehead. "You're probably thinking that you're just Tokiomi Tohsaka's daughter by doing this." She said. "And you are his daughter. But this…this has nothing to do with him. It's all on you, my beautiful cherry blossom. The burden of those who will die lies on you, and it's all up to you whether that burden will make for better or worse. But…I…I believe it will make you a better person."

Anika's smile grew wider as she caressed Sakura's cheek, who smiled as she raised a hand to Anika's. "Thank you…" she said. "…for being with me…I've killed people before, even before this war. But others were always behind those actions. Now, I am behind this. And you're right. Whether it's for good or evil, it's all up to me."

"Which will it be?" Anika asked, and Sakura pushed her hand and Anika's back until it rested over the baroness' chest.

"You already know, don't you?"

Anika smiled, and with a nod turned back to watching the city in the night. The minutes and the seconds ticked by, until finally, the appointed time came. The connection between the Masters and the Overseer opened, and by extension to those connected with them: their Servants, and in Sakura's case, Anika.

"I am Kirei Kotomine, Overseer and neutral mediator of the Fifth Holy Grail War." The voice said. "I now deliver an emergency proclamation from the Supervisor of Fuyuki City, Sakura Tohsaka. For crimes against the Office of the Supervisor and attempts to achieve Dead Apostle-hood, Zouken Matou is declared sealing designate. The Supervisor also recognizes the unusual circumstances of the present situation, and has brought her evidence to my perusal. As the neutral mediator, I concur and uphold her given decision. Furthermore, in light of the present situation, custody of Zouken Matou is deferred in favour of execution by any means necessary. Finally, members of the Matou family barring Zouken Matou who surrender themselves to official custody are guaranteed lenient treatment by either the Supervisor or by my person."

The connection closed, and Sakura closed her eyes as well. Several moments later and she opened them, hard and bright with resolve. "It's time." She said. "Archer…"

Air shimmered as Archer materialized, and Sakura turned towards him. She pointed over the suburbs to the general direction of the Matou property. "Scour that abomination from the face of the planet." She commanded. "No matter how deep or wide it festers, burn it all away no matter what."

Archer bowed. "As my Master commands…" he said, completely unsurprised. And in truth, he'd have been disappointed if she had commanded otherwise. Against what Zouken had prepared, no other course of option was viable. As for those who would die…

…well, what were a few more drops of blood on his hands?

For Sakura Matou's sake…a girl who could love even in the depths of hell…and the girl I couldn't save…

"I am the bone of my sword." He said, holding a hand out. Prana glowed orange as it formed a latticework in the air, the glow turning more and more tangible until he held a Viking Sword in his hand, the gilded cross-guard and pommel glittering with rubies. Air rippled with heat around the blade, Sakura and Anika stepping back several steps in alarm, and the latter narrowing her eyes.

That's magic…there's no doubt about it. Gradation Air…? But how is that possible? And the way the mystery actualizes…I've seen it before…Shirou Emiya…is he really…?

Archer raised the Sword of the Twilight, forged by the dwarves for the giant Surtr and prophesized to consume the world with fire at the Twilight of the Gods. Even in its greatly-weakened state the sword seethed with heat and kept the Humans from getting too close, even Archer finding holding it considerably difficult.

The sword flashed as it was altered, twisting into a glowing arrow-like form which he fitted into his bow as it flashed into existence. This time even Sakura narrowed her eyes. The bow was different from before, but the way it came into being…

Shirou Emiya…did the world break you in the end…?

Archer took aim, the arrow flashing brighter and brighter as he pumped prana into the Broken Phantasm. He steadied himself, checked the aim, and let go.

The arrow shrieked as it flew through the air like a falling star, leaving a trail of superheated gas behind it. Zouken had set up one hundred and twenty-three bounded fields, mostly support types to anchor, power, augment, and support the more active fields. Paralysis fields…prana-draining…disintegrators…there were even fields which targeted specific nerves for specific effects while others targeted the soul and throwing the victim into inescapable labyrinths of paradise or damnation while their body remained helpless in reality…

Archer's Broken Phantasm cut through them all like a hot knife through butter. Thousands of Matou familiars, from the common worm to more specialized chimeras that crossed worms, snakes, and certain plants and fungi into twisted man-sized abominations covered with writhing cilia and tendrils…all turned to ash in its wake. The Matou mansion's walls didn't even register.

There were two people in the place. One was Assassin, the hapless Servant barely having time to widen his eyes behind his mask as the Broken Phantasm burned through the physical and metaphysical barriers before detonating. The second was once a boy, now reduced to a weeping mass of larvae and egg-ridden meat, nerves kept alive in horrendous agony as blank eyes and a slack jaw eaten to the bone stared up helplessly into the lightless ceiling.

There was a flash of light, the Matou mansion vanishing in an instant. The worm pit, the alchemical laboratories, the breeding and gestation chambers, the archives, repositories…nothing survived. The light and heat blasted outwards, glass, stone and metal running like water as cloth, paper, and everything else turned to ash.

The blast wave blew back with a resounding boom, Sakura closing her eyes as she felt the weight of responsibility falling on her shoulders. She lowered her head in respect to those sacrificed, a great pillar of smoke rising in the distance as six square kilometres of the suburbs with the Matou mansion in the centre burned. And the resulting firestorm would probably claim more lives and property.

"It is done." Sakura said minutes later with a faint note of regret. She threw the bouquet of chrysanthemums into the wind, the firestorm sucking air in pulling petals and stems towards the burning mass grave. Nothing like the great fire ten years ago but still…hundreds if not thousands dead or injured…

Sakura sighed as Anika placed a hand on her shoulder. She nodded once before reaching up to remove her brooch, placing it into her pocket. Taking her loosened cravat she tied it around an arm before walking back towards the elevator. "We will retreat to our territory immediately." She ordered as Anika and Archer followed her. She unbuttoned her cuffs and rolled them up to her elbows. "The enemy will most likely concentrate his remaining forces in an effort to cut off our line of retreat. However between the three of us, we'll simply break through the enemy formation and back to the safety of our territory. There is nothing to fear."

"Strong words…" Archer thought. And then his thoughts derailed as Sakura pulled something from a pocket before tying it around a lock of hair at her left brow. It wasn't a mystic code like her brooch – which was weird because it seemed as though it was there while at the same time it wasn't whenever he looked at it – or even something fancy like that Red Eagle medal she wore at times.

It was a ribbon.

A/N

Shots fired…next chapter, we see Sakura going full power. No more tricks or shortcuts (in a few chapters or so we'll see how she can use spatial manipulation as single-count spells despite conventional wisdom dictating it to be five or even ten-count spells), just throwing out everything she's got to crush the enemy in front of her.

And so Assassin becomes the first Servant to die. I didn't like him anyway…Fate/Zero's Assassin was cooler.

Finally the references to Legend of the Galactic Heroes and A Song of Ice and Fire in this chapter are deliberate.